Per kilo doser

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a syringe comprising a syringe barrel having a plurality of non-volumetric measuring indicia thereon. The present invention also provides a container comprising: at least one chamber; a plurality of non-volumetric measuring indicia on the at least one chamber; and an opening control device in the at least one chamber for allowing liquid contained in the at least one chamber to be withdrawn from the at least one chamber.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to syringes andcontainers for measured dosages of a liquid medication.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] The terms “medication error”, “adverse drug reaction”, and“adverse drug event are used frequently in the literature and havedifferent meanings. The National Coordinating Council for MedicationError Reporting and Prevention defines medication error as “anypreventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication useor patient harm while the medication is in the control of the healthcare professional, patient or consumer. Such events may be related toprofessional practice, health care products, procedures, and systemsincluding prescribing; prescribing, order communication; productlabeling; packaging; and nomenclature; compounding; dispensing;distribution; administration; education; monitoring; and use.

[0005] The World Health Organization defines an Adverse Drug Reaction(ADR) as “any noxious, unintended, and undesired, effect of a drug whichoccurs at doses used in humans for prophylaxis, diagnosis, or therapy.”This definition excludes among other things, adverse events due toerrors in drug administration or non-compliance (taking more or less ofa drug than the prescribed amount. The term Adverse Drug Event (ADE) isalso used and unlike the ADR definition, does include errors inadministration.

[0006] Several studies have demonstrated the high incidence ofmedication errors and the sometimes fatal results. For example, aHarvard Medical Practice Study surveyed 30,000 hospitalizations inseveral New York hospitals and found 3.7% of the patients experiencedserious, disabling medical injuries, with 45% of them due to errors, seeLeape, L., et al., “Systems Analysis of Adverse Drug Events,” Journal ofthe American Medical Association, Jul. 5, 1995, Vol. 274, No. 1, pp.35-43. Also, a death certificate study found a greater than two-foldincrease in deaths caused by medication errors between 1993, duringwhich 7,391 people died, and 1983, when 2,876 patients died frommedication errors, see Phillips, D. P., et al., “Increase in U.S.Medication-Error Deaths Between 1983 and 1993,” The Lancet, Feb. 28,1998, Vol. 351, No. 9103. Another report estimates that 6.5 ADE's per100 admissions, as well as an additional cost of $2,000 per adverse drugevent for a hospitalized patient, excluding malpractice costs or cost ofinjury to the patient. Furthermore, while most ADE's are a result oferrors at the ordering stage, many occurred at the administering stage,as estimated by the study, see Bates, D. W., et al., “Incidence ofAdverse Drug Events and Potential Adverse Drug Events,” Journal of theAmerican Medical Association, Jul. 5, 1995, Vol. 274, No. 1, pp. 29-30.In addition, in large analysis insurance claims, injuries due to drugswere the most frequent cause of a procedure-related malpractice claim,see Leap, et al., 1995, JAMA, supra, and accounted for the highest totalof expenditures of any type of procedure-related injury, see Bates, etal., 1995, JAMA, supra. A study by Lazarou, et al. study found between76,000 and 106,000 deaths were caused by ADR's, see Lazarou, J. et al.,“Incidence of adverse Drug Reactions in Hospitalized Patients”, JAMA,Apr. 15, 1998, Vol. 279, no. 15, pp. 1200-1205.

[0007] From a pediatric standpoint, a four-year study that investigatedpatterns of medication errors in neonatal and pediatric intensivecare-units is instructive. Researchers found an error rate of 14.7% withone medication error occurring for every 6.8 admissions. The study foundthat while the percentage breakdown varied, all health care providers:physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, were responsible, see Raju T N K,et al., “Medication Errors in neonatal and pediatric intensive careunits,” The Lancet, August 12, 1989, pp. 374-376.

[0008] A 1993 study form the University of Wales clearly illustrates thecomplexity physicians face and the potential for medication error.Resident pediatrician's pediatric advanced knowledge was evaluatedfollowing participation in a rigorous training program. The resultsreflected the difficulty faced by health care practitioners: only 52%could provide the correct dosage of epinephrine to be administered to achild during cardiac arrest, without using a reference text, see Buss, PW, et al., “A Survey of basic resuscitation knowledge among residentpediatricians,” Archive of Disease in Childhood, 1993, 68:75-8.

[0009] Human error is also not limited to physicians. A testadministered to 100 registered nurses that assessed only mathematicalcalculating ability and involved questions concerning oral,intramuscular, and intravenous drugs yielded similar distressingresults. The mean error rate was 19% on intramuscular/subcutaneouscalculation questions, 36% on oral medication and 48% for intravenousdrug delivery, see Bindler, et al., “Medication calculation ability ofregistered nurses,” Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 1991,23:331-224.

[0010] Medication errors include dose miscalculation, improper dosagedelivery, and accidental administration of the wrong drug. Whilehospitals have voluntary reporting system in place, research has shownthem to be inaccurate. A study of a voluntary system that uncovered onlyone medication errors per 1,000 drug orders, revealed an actual errorrate of 32 per 1,000 medication errors, see Anderson, J. G., et al.,“Evaluating the Potential Effectiveness of Using ComputerizedInformation Systems to Prevent Adverse Drug Events,” AMIA, Inc., 1997,pp. 228-232. The cost of ADR's and ADE's is tremendous. While Anderson,et al. estimates that ADE's annually result in 1,400 to 4,656 days ofextra hospitalization with excess hospital costs ranging from $1.6million to $5.5 million, U.S. Pharmacopoeia (USP) calculates ADE's costapproximately $400 million per year in the U.S., excluding malpracticecosts or cost of injury to the patient.

[0011] One attempt to reduce ADR's and ADE's has been to use prefilledsyringes to avoid the risk of misidentification, and contamination.However, using a prefilled syringe still requires a physician or nurseto perform a mathematical calculation to convert between a patient'sheight or weight to the volume of drug to be administered. In addition,using prefilled syringes necessitates having separate syringes for eachdrug that may be administered to a patient. Furthermore, for storing agiven volume of a liquid medication, prefilled syringes are both awkwardto store and require a great deal of space to store, when comparedstoring a liquid medication in one or more vials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide adrug delivery system that reduces the possibility of adverse drugevents.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a drugdelivery system that avoids the need to perform a mathematicalcalculation to determine the amount of medication to be administered toan individual.

[0014] It is yet another object o the present invention to provide adrug delivery system that may be used to administer a number ofmedications quickly and easily.

[0015] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide adrug delivery system that may be used with existing vials for drugs.

[0016] According to a first broad aspect, the present invention providessyringe comprising a syringe barrel having a plurality of non-volumetricmeasuring indicia thereon.

[0017] According to a broad second aspect, the present invention provides a container comprising at least one chamber; a plurality ofnon-volumetric measuring indicia on the at least one chamber; and anopening control device in the at least one chamber for allowing liquidcontained in the at least one chamber to be withdrawn from the at leastone chamber.

[0018] Other objects and features of the present invention will beapparent from the following detailed description of the preferredembodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The invention will be described in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

[0020]FIG. 1 is an illustration in simplified form of a syringe madeaccording to the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 2 is an illustration in simplified form of another syringemade according to the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 3 is an illustration in simplified form of another syringemade according to the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 4 is an illustration in simplified form of a container madeaccording to the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 5 is an illustration in simplified form of another containermade according to the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 6A is an illustration in simplified form of another containermade according to the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view, in simplified form, of thecontainer of FIG. 6A;

[0027]FIG. 7A is an illustration in simplified form of another containermade according to the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 7B is a side view of the container of FIG. 7A.in simplifiedform of another container made according to the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 8 is an illustration in simplified form of another containermade according to the present invention;

[0030]FIG. 9 is an illustration in simplified form of another containermade according to the present invention;

[0031]FIG. 10 is an illustration in simplified form of another containermade according to the present invention;

[0032]FIG. 11 is an illustration in simplified form of another containermade according to the present invention;

[0033]FIG. 12 is an illustration in simplified form of another containermade according to the present invention;

[0034]FIG. 13 is an illustration in simplified form of another containermade according to the present invention;

[0035]FIG. 14A is an illustration in simplified form of anothercontainer made according to the present invention;

[0036]FIG. 14B is a bottom view of the container of FIG. 14A;

[0037]FIG. 15A is an illustration in simplified form of anothercontainer made according to the present invention;

[0038]FIG. 15B is a bottom view of the figure of 15A; and

[0039]FIG. 16 is an illustration of another container made according tothe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0040] It is advantageous to define several terms before describing theinvention. It should be appreciated that the following definitions areused throughout this application.

Definitions

[0041] Where the definition of terms departs from the commonly usedmeaning of the term, applicant intends to utilize the definitionsprovided below, unless specifically indicated.

[0042] For the purposes of the present invention, the term “volumetricmeasuring indicia” refers to numbers indicating amount of liquid in asyringe or container in terms of the liquid's volume.

[0043] For the purposes of the present invention, the term a“non-volumetric measuring indicia” refers to numbers, characters,colored markers or other indicia on a syringe or container that are notmerely representative of the volume of a liquid contained in the syringeor container. One example of “non-volumetric measuring indicia” is aseries of numbers on a syringe that indicate the amount of liquid thatshould be administered to an individual based on the individual's age,height, or weight. Another example of non-volumetric measuring indiciais a series of colored marks on a container that indicate the properdosage of a liquid to be administered to an individual, based on theindividual's weight or age. For example, a red mark could indicate thedose for a 1 year old, a blue mark the dose for a 5 year old, a yellowmark the dose for a 10 year old, etc. Yet another example ofnon-volumetric measuring indicia would be pictorial indicia, such as apicture depicting a baby for one dosage, a picture depicting a child fora second dosage, and a picture depicting an adult for a third dosage.The non-volumetric indicia of the present invention may include othermarkings, such as lines, used with conventional volumetric measuringindicia. For example, a non-volumetric measuring indicia of the presentinvention could comprise the characters “20 kg” and a line below thecharacters “20 kg” marked on a syringe of the present invention. Theline below the characters would indicate the level of liquid medicationthat must be dispensed by the syringe to administer a dosage for anindividual weighing up to 20 kg. Yet another example of non-volumetricmeasuring indicia covered by the present invention is to make sectionsof a syringe or a container of the present invention differenttranslucent colors. In such an embodiment, the translucent colors maycorrespond to particular weights, ages, etc. of individuals. The factthat the colors are translucent would allow the level of liquidmedication in the syringe or container to be determined.

[0044] For the purposes of the present invention, the term “primarynon-volumetric measuring indicia” refers to non-volume measuring indiciabetween which there are one or more “secondary non-volumetric measuringindicia”. For the purposes of the present invention, the term “indicia”refers to both an individual indicium as well as multiple indicia. Thesecondary non-volumetric measuring indicia indicates amounts of fluidintermediate between the amounts indicated by the primary non-volumetricmeasuring indicia, or between primary non-volumetric measuring indiciaand an end of a container or a syringe of the present invention.Although for simplicity, primary and secondary non-volumetric measuringindicia are only shown for a few of the syringes and containers of thepresent invention described below and shown in the drawing figures,primary and second non-volumetric measuring indicia may be used withvarious syringes and containers, of different sizes and shapes, of thepresent invention.

[0045] For the purposes of the present invention, the term “individual”refers to either an individual person or animal.

[0046] For the purposes of the present invention, the term “openingcontrol device” refers to any device that controls or limits the abilityof liquid to be withdrawn from a container of the present invention.When a syringe needle is used to withdraw liquid from a container of thepresent invention, the opening control device may be a sealed opening, aconventional resealable opening for receiving a syringe such as anopening with a valve for opening and closing the opening, etc. Theopening control device may even be as simple as a wall of the containerthat is thin enough for a syringe needle to penetrate and withdrawliquid from the container. The opening control device may also take theform of a valve, such as a conventional luer lock valve or adapter thatallows a luer or tube to be attached to the container and liquid to bewithdrawn when the valve is opened.

[0047] For the purposes of the present invention, the term “withdrawaldevice” refers to any device such as a syringe, luer, tube, etc. thatmay be used to withdraw liquid from a container of the presentinvention. The term “withdrawal device” also encompasses a valve mountedon a container of the present invention that allows liquid to bewithdrawn from the container when the valve is in an open position.

[0048] For the purposes of the present invention, the term “drug” or“liquid medication” refers to any type of liquid or solution that iscommonly considered a drug or medication. For the purposes of thepresent invention, a drug may be a substance that acts on the centralnervous system of an individual, e.g. a narcotic, hallucinogen,barbiturate, or a psychotropic drug. For the purposes of the presentinvention, a drug may also be a substance that kills or inactivatesdisease-causing infectious organisms. In addition, for the purposes ofthe present invention, a drug may be a substance that affects theactivity of a specific cell, bodily organ, or function. A drug may be anorganic or inorganic chemical, a biomaterial, etc.

[0049] For the purposes of the present invention, the term “modularcontainer” refers to a container of the present invention that haschambers that may be attached or detached from the container.

Description

[0050]FIG. 1 illustrates a syringe 100 of the present invention. Syringe100 includes a plunger 102, a syringe barrel 104 and a needle 106. Onthe outside of syringe barrel 104 are non-volumetric measuring indicia108, 110, 112, 114, and 116 that correspond to dosages based on anindividual's weight. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 108, comprisingcharacters 118 and line 120, corresponds to the dosage for an individualweighing 0 to 10 kg. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 110, comprisingcharacters 122 and line 124, corresponds to the dosage for an individualweighing 10 to 20 kg. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 112, comprisingcharacters 126 and line 128, corresponds to the dosage for an individualweighing 20 to 30 kg. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 114, comprisingcharacters 130 and line 132, corresponds to the dosage for an individualweighing 30 to 40 kg. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 116, comprisingcharacters 134 and line 136, corresponds to the dosage for an individualweighing 40 to 50 kg. A stopper 138 of plunger 110 has been pushed intosyringe barrel 104 to force out through needle 106 into an individual(not shown) a dosage of a liquid medication (not shown) sufficient foran individual weighing between 10 and 20 kg.

[0051]FIG. 2 illustrates a syringe 200 of the present invention. Syringe200 includes a plunger 202, a syringe barrel 204 and a needle 206. Onthe outside of syringe barrel 204 are non-volumetric measuring indicia208, 210, 212, 214, and 216 that correspond to dosages based on anindividuals age. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 208, comprisingcharacters 218 and line 220, corresponds to the dosage for an individualof up to 1 year of age. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 210, comprisingcharacters 222 and line 224, corresponds to the dosage for an individualof 1 to 5 years of age. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 212, comprisingcharacters 226 and line 228, corresponds to the dosage for an individualof 5 to 10 years of age. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 214,comprising characters 230 and line 232, corresponds to the dosage for anindividual of 10 to 15 years of age. Non-volumetric measuring indicia216, comprising characters 234 and line 236, corresponds to the dosagefor an individual of 15 to 20 years of age. A stopper 238 of plunger 210has been pushed into syringe barrel 204 to force out through needle 206into an individual (not shown) a dosage of a liquid medication (notshown) sufficient for an individual who is between 1 and 5 years old.

[0052]FIG. 3 illustrates a syringe 300 of the present invention. Syringe300 includes a plunger 302, a syringe barrel 304, and a needle 306. Onthe outside of syringe barrel 304 are non-volumetric measuring indicia308, 310, 312, 314, and 316 that correspond to dosages based on anindividual's height. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 308, comprises ared marking 318, indicated by the letter R, and a line 320.Non-volumetric measuring indicia 308 corresponds to the dosage for anindividual 0 to 30 cm tall. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 310comprises a blue marking 322, indicated by the letter B, and a line 324.Non-volumetric measuring indicia 310 corresponds to the dosage for anindividual 30 cm to 60 cm tall. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 312comprises a yellow marking 326, indicated by the letter Y, and a line328. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 312 corresponds to the dosage foran individual 60 cm to 90 cm tall. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 314comprises a green marking 330, indicated by the letter G, and a line332. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 314 corresponds to the dosage foran individual 90 cm to 120 cm tall. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 316comprises a purple marking 334, indicated by the letter P, and a line336. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 334 corresponds to the dosage foran individual 120 cm to 150 cm tall. A stopper 338 of plunger 310 hasbeen pushed into syringe barrel 304 to force out through needle 306 intoan individual (not shown) a dosage of a liquid medication (not shown)sufficient for an individual weighing between 30 cm and 60 cm tall.

[0053] The syringe of the present invention may be made of anyconventional material used for making syringes, such as transparent ortranslucent plastic. The syringe of the present invention may also be ofany size, shape or structure conventionally used for syringes.

[0054]FIG. 4 illustrates a container 400 of the present invention.Container 400 includes a resealable opening 402 into which a syringe(not shown) may be inserted. Resealable opening 402 is a conventionalresealable opening or valve device made of rubber, plastic, cork etc.that is conventionally used to allow a liquid in a container to bewithdrawn by a syringe or other withdrawal device. On the outside ofcontainer 400 are primary non-volumetric measuring indicia 408, 410,412, 414, and 416 that correspond to dosages based on an individual'sheight. Primary non-volumetric measuring indicia 408 comprisescharacters 418 and a line 420. Primary non-volumetric measuring indicia408 corresponds to the dosage for an individual 30 cm tall. Primarynon-volumetric measuring indicia 410 comprises characters 422 and a line424. Primary non-volumetric measuring indicia 410 corresponds to thedosage for an individual 60 cm tall. Primary non-volumetric measuringindicia 412 comprises characters 426 and a line 428. Primarynon-volumetric measuring indicia 412 corresponds to the dosage for anindividual 90 cm tall. Primary non-volumetric measuring indicia 414comprises characters 430 and a line 432. Primary non-volumetricmeasuring indicia 414 corresponds to the dosage for an individual 120 cmtall. Primary non-volumetric measuring indicia 416 comprises characters434 and a line 436. Primary non-volumetric measuring indicia 416corresponds to the dosage for an individual 150 cm tall. Container 400also includes secondary non-volumetric measuring lines or indicia 440between each of primary non-volumetric measuring indicia 408, 410, 412,414, and 416 to allow dosages to be measured for individuals whoseweights do not correspond to one of primary non-volumetric measuringindicia 408, 410, 412, 414, and 416. In use, a syringe or otherwithdrawal device (not shown) may be inserted into container 400 throughresealable opening 402 to withdraw the appropriate amount of a liquidmedication (not shown) that fills container 400. For example, towithdraw the proper dosage for an individual 72 cm tall, sufficientliquid medication is drawn into a syringe (not shown) to lower the levelof liquid in container 400 to the level of specific indicia 442 ofsecondary non-volumetric measuring indicia 440. Container 400 may befilled or refilled with a liquid medication (not shown) by removing acap 460 that snap fits onto container 400. Although only one type of capis shown in FIG. 400, any kind of conventional cap may be used to closecontainer 400.

[0055]FIG. 5 illustrates a container 500 of the present invention havinga right triangularly tapered profile. Container 500 includes an opening502, shown by shadow lines, sealed and covered by a seal 504 comprisedof a sealing material. Suitable sealing materials for seal 504 include:a plastic strip, aluminum foil, a piece of tape, etc. In order towithdraw a liquid medication (not shown) from container 500, the needleof the syringe is inserted through sheet 504 through opening 502 intocontainer 500. On the outside of container 500 are primarynon-volumetric measuring indicia 508, 510, 512, 514, and 516 thatcorrespond to dosages based on an individual's weight. Primarynon-volumetric measuring indicia 508 comprises characters 518 and a line520. Primary non-volumetric measuring indicia 508 corresponds to thedosage for an individual weighing 0 to 10 kg. Primary non-volumetricmeasuring indicia 510 comprises characters 522 and a line 524. Primarynon-volumetric measuring indicia 510 corresponds to the dosage for anindividual weighing 10 to 20 kg. Primary non-volumetric measuringindicia 512 comprises characters 526 and a line 528. Primarynon-volumetric measuring indicia 512 corresponds to the dosage for anindividual weighing 20 to 30 kg. Primary non-volumetric measuringindicia 514 comprises characters 530 and a line 532. Primarynon-volumetric measuring indicia 514 corresponds to the dosage for anindividual weighing 30 to 40 kg. Primary non-volumetric measuringindicia 516 comprises characters 534 and a line 536. Primarynon-volumetric measuring indicia 516 corresponds to the dosage for anindividual weighing 40 to 50 kg. Container 500 also includes secondarynon-volumetric measuring indicia 542, 544, 546, and 548. Secondarynon-volumetric measuring indicia 542 corresponds to the dosage for anindividual weighing 2 kg. Secondary non-volumetric measuring indicia 544corresponds to the dosage for an individual weighing 4 kg. Secondarynon-volumetric measuring indicia 546 corresponds to the dosage for anindividual weighing 6 kg. Secondary non-volumetric measuring indicia 548corresponds to the dosage for an individual weighing 8 kg. In use, asyringe or other withdrawal device (not shown) may be inserted intocontainer 500 through opening 502 to withdraw the appropriate amount ofa liquid medication (not shown) that fills container 500. For example,to withdraw the proper dosage for an individual weighing 8 kg,sufficient liquid medication is drawn into a syringe (not shown) tolower the level of liquid in container 500 to the level of secondarynon-measuring indicia 548. Because container 500 has aright-triangularly tapered profile, the non-volumetric measuring indiciaon container 500, unlike the non-volumetric measuring indicia on therectangular container shown in FIG. 4, are not evenly spaced from eachother. As container 500 narrows in profile towards the top of container500, the amount of liquid contained in a given distance up the containerdecreases. Using a container having such a triangular profile can beparticularly valuable when dosages must be measured for small childrenwhere slight differences in the unit dosage amount result in higherpercentage bodyweight changes in dosage and may be critical to effectivecare of an individual receiving such dosages. Before sealing opening 502with seal 504, container 500 may be filled with a liquid medicationthrough opening 502.

[0056]FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a multi-chamber container 600 of thepresent invention having a rectangular profile. Multi-chamber container600 includes four sub-containers or chambers 602, 604, 606, and 608 forfour different liquid medications (not shown). Each of chambers 602,604, 606, and 608 may be a different size, because the dosage amounts ofeach of the liquid medications (not shown) may be different for anindividual of a given weight. On the outside of multi-chamber container600 are primary non-volumetric measuring indicia 610, 612, 614, 616 and618 that correspond to dosages for the liquid medications (not shown) ineach of chambers 602, 604, 606, and 608, based on an individual'sweight. Primary non-volumetric measuring indicia 610 comprisescharacters 620 and a line 622. Primary non-volumetric measuring indicia610 corresponds to the dosages for an individual weighing 10 kg. Primarynon-volumetric measuring indicia 612 comprises characters 624 and a line626. Primary non-volumetric measuring indicia 612 corresponds to thedosages for an individual weighing 20 kg. Primary non-volumetricmeasuring indicia 614 comprises characters 628 and a line 630. Primarynon-volumetric measuring indicia 614 corresponds to the dosages for anindividual weighing 30 kg. Primary non-volumetric measuring indicia 616comprises characters 632 and a line 634. Primary non-volumetricmeasuring indicia 616 corresponds to the dosages for an individualweighing 40 kg. Primary non-volumetric measuring indicia 618 comprisescharacters 636 and a line 638. Primary non-volumetric measuring indicia618 corresponds to the dosages for an individual weighing 50 kg.Container 600 also includes secondary non-volumetric measuring indiciaor lines 640 between each of primary non-volumetric measuring indicia610, 612, 614, 616, and 618 to allow dosages to be measured forindividuals whose weights do not correspond to one of primarynon-volumetric measuring indicia 610, 612, 614, 616, and 618. In use, asyringe or other withdrawal device (not shown) may be inserted intomulti-chamber container 600 through resealable openings 642, 644, 646,and 648 to withdraw the appropriate amount of each of the four liquidmedications in chambers 602, 604, 606, and 608, respectively. Resealableopenings 642, 644, 646, and 648 are conventional resealable openings orvalve devices made of rubber, plastic, cork etc. that are conventionallyused to allow a liquid in a container to be withdrawn by a syringe orother withdrawal device. For example, to withdraw the proper dosages foran individual weighing 24 kg, sufficient liquid medications are drawninto a syringe (not shown) to lower the level of liquid in each ofchambers 602, 604, 606, and 608 to the level of specific indicia 650 ofsecondary non-volumetric measuring indicia 640. Container 600 may befilled or refilled with a liquid medication (not shown) by removing acap 660 that snap fits onto container 600. Although only one type of capis shown in FIG. 6A, any kind of conventional cap may be used to closecontainer 600.

[0057] As illustrated in FIG. 6B, chamber 602 includes a male slidingconnector 662 on a left wall 664, and a female sliding connector 666 ona right wall 668 of chamber 602. Chamber 604 includes a male slidingconnector 670 on a left wall 672 and a female sliding connector 674 on aright wall 676 of chamber 604. Chamber 606 includes a male slidingconnector 678 on a left wall 680 and a female sliding connector 682 on aright wall 684 of chamber 606. Chamber 608 includes a male slidingconnector 686 on a left wall 688 and a female sliding connector 690 on aright wall 692 of chamber 608. Chamber 604 is fitted onto chamber 602 bysliding male sliding connector 670 into female sliding connector 666.Chamber 606 is fitted onto chamber 604 by sliding male sliding connector678 into female sliding connector 674. Chamber 608 is fitted ontochamber 606 by sliding male sliding connector 686 into female slidingconnector 682. Container 600 can be expanded by fitting additional(chambers) not shown having male and female sliding connectors ontocontainer 600. Similarly, container 600 may be reduced by using fewerchambers than shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

[0058] Although only one type of connector is shown in FIG. 6B to allowfor the formation of a modular container, other forms of known modularconnectors may be used to form modular containers of the presentinvention.

[0059]FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a multi-chamber container 700 of thepresent invention having a triangularly tapered profile. Multi-chambercontainer 700 includes four sub-containers or chambers 702, 704, 706,and 708 for four different liquid medications (not shown). Each ofchambers 702, 704, 706, and 708 may be a different size, because thedosage amount of each of the medications may be different for anindividual of a given weight. On the outside of multi-chamber container700 are primary non-volumetric measuring indicia 718, 720, and 722 thatcorrespond to dosages for the liquid medications (not shown) in each ofchambers 702, 704, 706, and 708 based on an individual's weight. Primarynon-volumetric measuring indicia 718 comprises characters 724 and a line726. Primary non-volumetric measuring indicia 718 corresponds to thedosages for an individual weighing 10 kg. Primary non-volumetricmeasuring indicia 720 comprises characters 728 and a line 730. Primarynon-volumetric measuring indicia 720 corresponds to the dosages for anindividual weighing 20 kg. Primary non-volumetric measuring indicia 722comprises characters 732 and a line 734. Primary non-volumetricmeasuring indicia 722 corresponds to the dosages for an individualweighing 30 kg. Container 700 also includes secondary non-volumetricmeasuring indicia or lines 740 between each of primary non-volumetricmeasuring indicia 718, 720, and 722 to allow dosages to be measured forindividuals whose weights do not correspond to one of primarynon-volumetric measuring indicia 718, 720, and 722. In use, a syringe orother withdrawal device (not shown) is inserted into multi-chambercontainer 700 through sealed openings 742, 744, 746, and 748 (shown byshadow lines) to withdraw the appropriate amount of each of the fourliquid medications in chambers 702, 704, 706, and 708, respectively. Forexample, to withdraw the proper dosages for an individual weighing 4 kg,sufficient liquid medications are drawn into a syringe (not shown) tolower the level of liquid in each of chambers 702, 704, 706, and 708 tothe level of specific indicia 750. Openings 742, 744, 746, and 748 arecovered and sealed by seals 752, 754, 756, and 758, respectively.Suitable sealing materials for seals 752, 754, 756, and 758 include:plastic strips, aluminum foil, pieces of tape, etc. Before openings 742,744, 746, and 748 are sealed, liquid medications may be poured, orinjected into chambers 702, 704, 706, and 708 through openings 742, 744,746, and 748, respectively.

[0060]FIG. 7B indicates how the distance between primary non-volumetricmeasuring indicia changes throughout the height of multi-chambercontainer 700. Because container 700 has a right angular profile, inorder to have equal volumes of liquid medication (not shown) in each ofsections 762, 764, and 766, the distance between container top 768 andline 726 is H, the distance between line 726 and line 730 is H({squareroot}2-1), and the distance between line 730 and line 734 is H+H({squareroot}2-1)({square root}2-1).

[0061]FIG. 8 illustrates, in simplified form, a container 800 of thepresent invention having a parabolic shape and including non-volumetricmeasuring indicia 802 and 804. FIG. 9 illustrates, in simplified formcontainer 900 of the present invention having another shape andincluding non-volumetric measuring indicia 902 and 904. FIG. 10illustrates, in simplified form container 1000 of the present inventionhaving another shape and including non-volumetric measuring indicia1002, 1004 and 1006. FIG. 11 illustrates, in simplified form container1100 of the present invention having another shape and includingnon-volumetric measuring indicia 1102, 1104, and 1106.

[0062]FIG. 12 illustrates a multi-chamber container 1200 of the presentinvention having a cylindrical shape. Multi-chamber container 1200includes seven sub-containers or chambers 1202, 1204, 1206, 1208, 1210,1212, and 1214 for seven different liquid medications (not shown). Eachof chambers 1202, 1204, 1206, 1208, 1210, 1212, and 1214 may be adifferent size, because the dosage amounts of each of the liquidmedications (not shown) may be different for an individual of a givenweight. On the outside of multi-chamber container 1200 arenon-volumetric measuring indicia 1228, 1230, 1232, 1234 and 1236 thatcorrespond to dosages for the liquid medications (not shown) in each ofchambers 1202, 1204, 1206, and 1208 based on an individual's weight.Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1228 comprises characters 1238 and aline 1240. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1228 corresponds to thedosages for an individual weighing 10 kg. Non-volumetric measuringindicia 1230 comprises characters 1242 and a line 1244. Non-volumetricmeasuring indicia 1230 corresponds to the dosages for an individualweighing 20 kg. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1232 comprisescharacters 1246, and a line 1248. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1232corresponds to the dosages for an individual weighing 30 kg.Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1234 comprises characters 1250 and aline 1252. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1234 corresponds to thedosages for an individual weighing 40 kg. Non-volumetric measuringindicia 1236 comprises characters 1254 and a line 1256. Non-volumetricmeasuring indicia 1236 corresponds to the dosages for an individualweighing 50 kg.

[0063] In use, a syringe or other withdrawal device (not shown) isinserted into multi-chamber container 1200 through sealed openings 1262,1264, 1266, 1268, 1270, 1272, and 1274 to withdraw the appropriateamount of one or more of the seven liquid medications in chambers 1202,1204, 1206, 1208, 1210, 1212, and 1214, For example, to withdraw theproper dosages for an individual weighing 10 kg, sufficient liquidmedications are drawn into a syringe (not shown) to lower the level ofliquid in one or more of chambers of 1202, 1204, 1206, 1208, 1210, 1212,and 1214 to the level of secondary non-volumetric measuring indicia1228. Openings 1262, 1264, 1266, 1268, 1270, 1272, and 1274 are coveredand sealed by seals 1282, 1284, 1286, 1288, 1290, 1292, and 1294,respectively. Suitable sealing materials for seals 1282, 1284, 1286,1288, 1290, 1292, and 1294 include: plastic strips, aluminum foil,pieces of tape, etc. Before openings 1262, 1264, 1266, 1268, 1270, 1272,and 1274 are sealed, liquid medications may be poured into chambers1202, 1204, 1206, 1208, 1210, 1212, and 1214 through openings 1262,1264, 1266, 1268, 1270, 1272, and 1274, respectively. Depending on themedical needs of a particular individual, one, some of or all of theliquid medications in chambers 1202, 1204, 1206, 1208, 1210, 1212, and1214 may be administered to the individual.

[0064]FIG. 13 illustrates a multi-chamber container 1300 of the presentinvention having a hollow cylindrical shape. Multi-chamber container1300 includes seven sub-containers or chambers 1302, 1304, 1306, 1308,1310, 1312, and 1314 for seven different liquid medications (not shown).Each of chambers 1302, 1304, 1306, 1308, 1310, 1312, and 1314 may be adifferent size, because the dosage amounts of each of the liquidmedications (not shown) may be different for an individual of a givenweight. On the outside of multi-chamber container 1300 arenon-volumetric measuring indicia 1328, 1330, 1332, 1334 and 1336 thatcorrespond to dosages for the liquid medications (not shown) in each ofchambers 1302, 1304, 1306, and 1308 based on an individual's weight.Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1328 comprises characters 1338 and aline 1340. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1328 corresponds to thedosages for an individual weighing 10 kg. Non-volumetric measuringindicia 1330 comprises characters 1342 and a line 1344. Non-volumetricmeasuring indicia 1330 corresponds to the dosages for an individualweighing 20 kg. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1332 comprisescharacters 1346, and a line 1348. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1332corresponds to the dosages for an individual weighing 30 kg.Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1334 comprises characters 1350 and aline 1352. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1334 corresponds to thedosages for an individual weighing 40 kg. Non-volumetric measuringindicia 1336 comprises characters 1354 and a line 1356. Non-volumetricmeasuring indicia 1336 corresponds to the dosages for an individualweighing 50 kg.

[0065] In use, a syringe or other withdrawal device (not shown) mayinserted into multi-chamber container 1300 through sealed openings 1362,1364, 1366, 1368, 1370, 1372, and 1374 to withdraw the appropriateamount of one or more of the seven liquid medications in chambers 1302,1304, 1306, 1308, 1310, 1312, and 1314, respectively. For example, towithdraw the proper dosages for an individual weighing 10 kg, one ormore of the liquid medications are drawn into a syringe (not shown) tolower the level of liquid in one or more of chambers 1302, 1304, 1306,1308, 1310, 1312, and 1314 to the level of secondary non-volumetricmeasuring indicia 1328. Openings 1362, 1364, 1366, 1368, 1370, 1372, and1374 are covered and sealed by seals 1382, 1384, 1386, 1388, 1390, 1392,and 1394, respectively. Suitable sealing materials for seals 1382, 1384,1386, 1388, 1390, 1392, and 1394 include: plastic strips, aluminum foil,pieces of tape, etc. Before 1362, 1364, 1366, 1368, 1370, 1372, and 1374are sealed, liquid medications may be poured, or injected into chambers1302, 1304, 1306, 1308, 1310, 1312, and 1314 through openings 1362,1364, 1366, 1368, 1370, 1372, and 1374, respectively. Depending on themedical needs of a particular individual, one, some of or all of theliquid medications in chambers 1302, 1304, 1306, 1308, 1310, 1312, and1314 may be administered to the individual.

[0066]FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate a multi-chamber container 1400 of thepresent invention that is conical in shape. Multi-chamber container 1400includes seven sub-containers or chambers 1402, 1404, 1406, 1408, 1410,1412, and 1414 for seven different liquid medications (not shown). Eachof chambers 1402, 1404, 1406, 1408, 1410, 1412, and 1414 may be adifferent size, because the dosage amounts of each of the liquidmedications (not shown) may be different for an individual of a givenweight. On the outside of multi-chamber container 1400 arenon-volumetric measuring indicia 1428, 1430, and 1432 that correspond todosages for the liquid medications (not shown) in each of chambers 1402,1404, 1406, and 1408 based on an individual's weight. Non-volumetricmeasuring indicia 1428 comprises characters 1438 and a line 1440.Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1428 corresponds to the dosages for anindividual weighing 10 kg. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1430comprises characters 1442 and a line 1444. Non-volumetric measuringindicia 1430 corresponds to the dosages for an individual weighing 20kg. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1432 comprises characters 1446, anda line 1448. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1430 corresponds to thedosages for an individual weighing 30 kg.

[0067] In use, a syringe or other withdrawal device (not shown) may beinserted into multi-chamber container 1400 through sealed openings 1462,1464, 1466, 1468, 1470, 1472, and 1474 to withdraw the appropriateamount of one or more of the seven liquid medications in chambers 1402,1404, 1406, 1408, 1410, 1412, and 1414, respectively. For example, towithdraw the proper dosages for an individual weighing 10 kg, sufficientliquid medications are drawn into a syringe (not shown) to lower thelevel of liquid in any of chambers 1402, 1404, 1406, 1408, 1410, 1412,and 1414 to the level of non-volumetric measuring indicia 1428. Openings1462, 1464, 1466, 1468, 1470, 1472, and 1474 are covered and sealed byseals 1482, 1484, 1486, 1488, 1490, 1492, and 1494, respectively.Suitable sealing materials for seals 1482, 1484, 1486, 1488, 1490, 1492,and 1494 include: plastic strips, aluminum foil, pieces of tape, etc.Before 1462, 1464, 1466, 1468, 1470, 1472, and 1474 are sealed, liquidmedications may be poured, or injected into chambers 1402, 1404, 1406,1408, 1410, 1412, and 1414 through openings 1462, 1464, 1466, 1468,1470, 1472, and 1474, respectively. Depending on the medical needs of aparticular individual, one, some of or all of the liquid medications inchambers 1402, 1404, 1406, 1408, 1410, 1412, and 1414 may beadministered to the individual.

[0068]FIGS. 15A and 15B illustrate a multi-chamber container 1500 of thepresent invention that is conical in shape. Multi-chamber container 1500includes seven sub-containers or chambers 1502, 1504, 1506, 1508, 1510,1512, and 1514 for seven different liquid medications (not shown). Eachof chambers 1502, 1504, 1506, 1508, 1510, 1512, and 1514 may be adifferent size, because the dosage amounts of each of the liquidmedications (not shown) may be different for an individual of a givenweight. On the outside of multi-chamber container 1500 arenon-volumetric measuring indicia 1528, 1530, and 1532 that correspond todosages for the liquid medications (not shown) in each of chambers 1502,1504, 1506, and 1508 based on an individual's weight. Non-volumetricmeasuring indicia 1528 comprises characters 1538 and a line 1540.Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1528 corresponds to the dosages for anindividual weighing 10 kg. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1530comprises characters 1542 and a line 1544. Non-volumetric measuringindicia 1530 corresponds to the dosages for an individual weighing 20kg. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1532 comprises characters 1546, anda line 1548. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1530 corresponds to thedosages for an individual weighing 30 kg.

[0069] In use, a syringe or other withdrawal device (not shown) may beinserted into multi-chamber container 1500 through sealed openings 1562,1564, 1566, 1568, 1570, 1572, and 1574 to withdraw the appropriateamount of each of the seven liquid medications in chambers 1502, 1504,1506, 1508, 1510, 1512, and 1514, respectively. For example, to withdrawthe proper dosages for an individual weighing 10 kg, sufficient liquidmedications are drawn into a syringe (not shown) to lower the level ofliquid in one or more of chambers1502, 1504, 1506, 1508, 1510, 1512, and1514 to the level of non-volumetric measuring indicia 1528. Openings1562, 1564, 1566, 1568, 1570, 1572, and 1574 are covered and sealed byseals 1582, 1584, 1586, 1588, 1590, 1592, and 1594, respectively.Suitable sealing materials for seals 1582, 1584, 1586, 1588, 1590, 1592,and 1594 include: plastic strips, aluminum foil, pieces of tape, etc.Before openings 1562, 1564, 1566, 1568, 1570, 1572, and 1574 are sealed,liquid medications may be poured, or injected into chambers 1502, 1504,1506, 1508, 1510, 1512, and 1514 through openings 1562, 1564, 1566,1568, 1570, 1572, and 1574, respectively. Depending on the medical needsof a particular individual, one, some of or all of the liquidmedications in chambers 1502, 1504, 1506, 1508, 1510, 1512, and 1514 maybe administered to the individual.

[0070]FIG. 16 illustrates a container 1600 of the present invention thatincludes a body portion 1602 and a transparent sleeve 1604. Body portion1602 includes reference markings 1606. Transparent sleeve 1604 includesnon-volumetric measuring indicia 1608, 1610, 1612, 1614, and 1616.Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1608 comprises characters 1618 and line1620. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1610 comprises characters 1622and line 1624. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1612 comprisescharacters 1626 and line 1628. Non-volumetric measuring indicia 1614comprises characters 1630 and line 1632. Non-volumetric measuringindicia 1616 comprises characters 1634 and line 1636. Transparent sleeve1604 can be used to recalibrate container 1600 by sliding transparentsleeve 1604 so that a top line 1638 of transparent sleeve 1604 is evenwith the current level of liquid (not shown for simplicity) in container1600. Transparent sleeve 1604 may be held in place on container 1600 bygripping transparent sleeve 1604 against container 1600.

[0071] Container 1600 includes four sub-containers or chambers 1642,1644, 1646, and 1648 for four different liquid medications (not shown).Each of chambers 1642, 1644, 1646, and 1648 may be a different size,because the dosage amounts of each of the liquid medications (not shown)may be different for an individual of a given weight. In use, a syringeor other withdrawal device (not shown) may be inserted intomulti-chamber container 1600 through resealable openings 1652, 1654,1656 and 1658 to withdraw the appropriate amount of each of the fourliquid medications in chambers 1642, 1644, 1646, and 1648, respectively.The appropriate amounts of each of the liquid medications (not shown)filling chambers 1642, 1644, 1646, and 1648, to be administered to anindividual of a particular weight is indicated by non-volumetricmeasuring indicia 1608, 1610, 1612 and 1614 on transparent sleeve 1604.Resealable openings 1652, 1654, 1656, and 1658 are conventionalresealable openings or valve devices made of rubber, plastic, cork etc.that are conventionally used to allow a liquid in a container to bewithdrawn by a syringe or other withdrawal device. Depending on themedical needs of a particular individual, one, some of or all of theliquid medications in chambers 1642, 1644, 1646, and 1648 may beadministered to the individual.

[0072] Chambers 1642, 1644, 1646, and 1648 may be filled with liquidmedications (not shown) by removing a cap 1660 that snap fits ontocontainer 1600, or by injecting through resealable openings 1652, 1654,1656, and 1658, respectively. Although only one type of cap is shown inFIG. 6A, any kind of conventional cap may be used to close container1600.

[0073] Although one particular type of recalibration device, a sleeve,including non-volumetric measuring indicia is shown in FIG. 16, varioustypes of recalibration devices may be used to recalibrate the containerof the present invention. For example, a transparent card or sheetincluding non-volumetric measuring indicia may be held against thecontainer of the present invention to recalibrate the container.

[0074] The container of the present invention is preferably made of atransparent or translucent material such as plastic, Plexiglas, orglass. Although only a few types of shapes are illustrated above for thecontainer of the present invention, the container of the presentinvention may have a wide variety of sizes and shapes depending on howthe container is used for a particular application. Similarly, anyportion of the container may be color coded to aid in visualizinghorizontal lines indicating particular weights, heights, etc.

[0075] Also, different chambers of the container may be color coded toindicate particular drugs or drugs for particular applications. Forexample, cardiac drugs could be located in blue colored chambers, rapidsequence intubation drugs in green colored chambers, antidote drugs inyellow chambers, etc.

[0076] Although particular weight and height ranges are shown for thesyringes and containers of the present invention described above andshown in the drawings, various weight and height ranges may be useddepending on the setting. For example, a syringe or container of thepresent invention may be specially made for use with infants havingrelatively small age or height ranges.

[0077] Although only a few types of non-volumetric measuring indicia areshown for the syringes and containers described above, the presentinvention encompasses any kind of non-volumetric marking that may beused on a syringe or container, such as abstract symbols; pictures ofhumans as: babies, children, adults; etc.

[0078] Although the container of the present invention has only beendescribed above with respect to using a syringe to withdraw liquid, thecontainer of the present invention may include a valve to allow forliquid to be withdrawn from the container. An example of such a valve isa conventional luer-lock that allows liquid to be withdrawn from thecontainer into a tube or luer.

[0079] Although dosage levels generally increase linearly with respectto the weight, age, etc. of an individual to which a drug isadministered, in some circumstances, the relationship may not be linearand the non-volumetric markings and intermediate marking on the syringeor container of the present invention may be located appropriately toreflect a non-linear relationship.

[0080] The present invention also encompasses the use of multiple typesof indicia used simultaneously on a syringe or container. For example,for a particular medication, the weight 350 kg and 150 cm could belisted together at the same line of a syringe or container. Similarly,for liquid medications where the dosage may be different depending onwhether an individual is male or female, two different weights orheights, one for a male and one for a female, may be listed together atthe same line on the syringe or container.

[0081] In a typical resuscitation scenario, a patient arrives and weightis assessed based on age or using a Broselow tape that determines weightbased on a patient's height. The physician evaluates the situation,chooses the optimal drug, and calculates the drug dose based on thepatients' weight (mg/kg). For example, the dose of Atropine in mg basedon weight is 0.02 mg/kg. For a 10 kg child, 0.2 mg would be requested.The nurse, informed of the mg dose, performs another calculation todetermine the quantity of drug to administer in cubic centimeters.Atropine is dispensed as a 0.01 mg/cc concentration. Thus, the dose ofAtropine in cc/kg would be 0.2 cc/kg. For a 10 g child, 2 cc would berequired.

[0082] Using the above scenario and the container of the presentinvention, a patient arrives, the patient's weight is assessed, and thephysician chooses Atropine. The nurse inserts a needle into a containercontaining Atropine or the Atropine chamber of a multi-chambercontainer, and withdraws the drug until the liquid reaches the mark onthe container corresponding to the weight of the patient. The containerof the present invention allows a user to determine the amount of drugto be administered based directly on the patient's weight, eliminatingthe need to make the mathematical conversion from kilograms of patientweight to cubic centimeters of administered drug. Furthermore, when amulti-chamber multi-drug container of the present invention is used, theamount of each administered drug may be directly determined by just onenumber such as the patient's weight, height, etc. In contrast, using thecurrent procedure to administer multiple drugs, a conversion frompatient weight to milligrams and again to cubic centimeters ofadministered drug must be made for each and every drug, therebyproviding multiple opportunities for errors to occur.

[0083] The typical scenario requires multiple mathematical calculationsand allows for errors to be committed at each step.

[0084] Although the present invention has been fully described inconjunction with the preferred embodiment thereof with reference to theaccompanying drawings, it is to be understood that various changes andmodifications may be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changesand modifications are to be understood as included within the scope ofthe present invention as defined by the appended claims, unless theydepart therefrom.

What is claimed is:
 1. A syringe comprising a syringe barrel having aplurality of non-volumetric measuring indicia thereon.
 2. The syringe ofclaim 1, wherein said plurality of non-volumetric measuring indiciacomprise numeric indicia.
 3. The syringe of claim 1, wherein saidplurality of non-volumetric measuring indicia comprise a plurality ofcolor indicia.
 4. The syringe of claim 1, wherein said plurality ofnon-volumetric measuring indicia comprise a plurality of weight indicia.5. The syringe of claim 1, wherein said plurality of non-volumetricmeasuring indicia comprise a plurality of age indicia.
 6. The syringe ofclaim 1, wherein said plurality of non-volumetric measuring indiciacomprise a plurality of height indicia.
 7. The syringe of claim 1,further comprising a means for adjusting the location of said pluralityof non-volumetric measuring indicia with respect to said syringe barrel.8. A container comprising: at least one chamber; a plurality ofnon-volumetric measuring indicia on said at least one chamber; and anopening control device in said at least one chamber for allowing liquidcontained in said at least one chamber to be withdrawn from said atleast one chamber.
 9. The container of claim 8, wherein said openingcontrol device comprises a needle receiving section for being penetratedby a syringe needle.
 10. The container of claim 8, wherein said openingcontrol device comprises an opening and a covering material for sealingsaid opening and for being penetrated by a syringe needle.
 11. Thecontainer of claim 8, wherein said plurality of non-volumetric measuringindicia comprise numeric indicia.
 12. The container of claim 8, whereinsaid plurality of non-volumetric measuring indicia comprise a pluralityof color indicia.
 13. The container of claim 8, wherein said pluralityof non-volumetric measuring indicia comprise a plurality of weightindicia.
 14. The container of claim 8, wherein said plurality ofnon-volumetric measuring indicia comprise a plurality of age indicia.15. The container of claim 8, wherein said plurality of non-volumetricmeasuring indicia comprise a plurality of height indicia.
 16. Thecontainer of claim 8, wherein said at least one chamber has arectangular cross-section.
 17. The container of claim 8, wherein said atleast one chamber is tapered.
 18. The container of claim 17, whereinsaid at least one chamber is right-triangularly tapered.
 19. Thecontainer of claim 8, wherein said at least one chamber comprises aplurality of chambers.
 20. The container of claim 19, wherein saidplurality of chambers comprise modular chambers.
 21. The container ofclaim 19, wherein said plurality of chambers comprises a rectangularblock of chambers.
 22. The container of claim 19, wherein said pluralityof chambers comprises a right-triangularly tapered block of chambers.23. The container of claim 19, wherein said plurality of chamberscomprises a solid cylinder of chambers.
 24. The container of claim 19,wherein said plurality of chambers comprises a hollow cylinder ofchambers.
 25. The container of claim 19, wherein said plurality ofchambers comprises a solid cone of chambers.
 26. The container of claim19, wherein said plurality of chambers comprises a hollow cone ofchambers.
 27. The container of claim 8, further comprising arecalibration means for adjusting the location of said plurality ofnon-volumetric measuring indicia with respect to said at least onechamber.